Oliver Bearman Receives 10-Place Grid Penalty for Red Flag Breach at Monaco GP

Oliver Bearman Penalized for Overtaking Under Red Flags

Haas driver Oliver Bearman has been dealt a significant blow ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, receiving a 10-place grid penalty after overtaking Carlos Sainz under red-flag conditions during the second practice session.

The incident occurred following a crash involving Oscar Piastri, which had prompted officials to suspend the session. Despite the neutralization, Bearman made the controversial decision to pass Williams driver Sainz at the La Rascasse corner. His defense for this maneuver—a belief that it was safer to overtake than to slow down—was dismissed by the FIA stewards.

The stewards stated, "Well before the overtake, the session had been red-flagged" and concluded from a review of video footage that Bearman had been clearly informed of the red flag, both through an on-track light panel and his dashboard display. Specifically, they highlighted the regulations which mandate that drivers must immediately reduce speed and return to the pits during such flag conditions, emphasizing that overtaking is strictly prohibited.

This incident marks a continuation of Bearman's difficult season. He sits in 16th place in the Drivers' Championship, despite being the lowest-ranked scorer with six points accumulated from an eighth-place finish in China and two tenth-place results in Japan and Bahrain. The upcoming penalty will likely push him to the back of the grid for Sunday’s race, exacerbating his challenges as Monaco is known for its narrow and challenging layout where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

• Red flags were triggered due to a crash by Oscar Piastri, which saw him lose his front wing.
• Investigations revealed that the Haas team informed Bearman too late about the red flag situation.
• Bearman’s excuse of prioritizing safety by overtaking was not accepted by the stewards, who maintained that all drivers must adhere strictly to safety protocols.
• This penalty adds to Bearman’s woes, following a previous incident where he had his lap time deleted under similar conditions.
• Steward statements highlight the serious emphasis on driver safety under red flag conditions, especially in the high-stakes environment of Monaco.

As Bearman aims to regroup and try to improve during the remainder of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, he reflects on his performance in practice, which placed him 15th. He expressed optimism about the car's balance and potential improvements, but the upcoming race will undoubtedly be a test of his skill from a challenging starting position.